Longer but still sweet: the deluxe album is here

BY HAELEY CARPENTER

Editor-in-Chief 

Between going on tour in September to the bad breakup with Barry Keogan, Sabrina Carpenter has been busy since the release of her recent and most popular album “Short n’ Sweet.”

While her relationship and tour were all over social media the past couple of months, Carpenter was busy behind the scenes making “Short n’ Sweet (deluxe)” which she announced via Instagram on Feb. 4, 2025.

She didn’t leave us waiting long, dropping the deluxe album just 10 days later.

To describe these extra five songs in one word: influence.

From her life and who she looks up to, listeners can tell where each song came from whether it be content or sound. 

“Short n’ Sweet” was a powerful, iconic set of 12 songs from the pop princess and these add-ons were no exception.

Ranking any of the songs off the original album would take hours to say the least. Instead I will rank the deluxe songs, and no I will not be taking any criticism.

Also, this is a general “how much I like these songs” list, if it was about what songs are best to sing while getting ready in the morning or which song has the best lyrics then those would be different lists. 

5. “Please Please Please (feat. Dolly Parton)”

LISTEN, I KNOW.

I hate to say this because I love, love, love Dolly Parton. And let me make it clear that I am not hating on her.

All I am saying is that maybe this song wasn’t the best option for Dolly Parton to be on. I will admit song options are limited because, let’s face it, there’s no way Dolly would sing about wanting a guy so much that she’d let him get her pregnant.

I would have liked to hear Dolly on “Coincidence” or “Slim Pickins” or even “Espresso” because I, unfortunately, agree with the masses when they say that Dolly’s voice sounds like she is creeping up on you in a weird way.

Dolly Parton is obviously an influence on Sabrina Carpenter because how could she not be? 

Blonde, short and gifts to society straight from the heavens, they’re basically the same person.

4. “Couldn’t Make It Any Harder”

If you know about Carpenter’s tour then you know she spins the bottle for a surprise song every night, one of her more popular options is Olivia Newton-John’s “Hopelessly Devoted.”

You can hear the influence of Newton-John's solo performance in “Grease” in “Couldn’t Make It Any Harder” and it almost feels like it’s more mature sister.

While “Hopelessly Devoted” is about not being able to help being devoted to someone wholeheartedly no matter how they feel for you and not being able to hide from it, “Couldn’t Make It Harder” is about protecting your peace and not letting just anyone into your life.

The slow, sensual sound makes it feel like a ballad, perfect for singing in the shower.

3. “Busy Woman”

If the eyes emoji and the context around them were a song, this would be it. The whole “nah, I’m just playin… unless” deal is exactly what this song is about.

She does not need you whatsoever, unless you want her then she'll be there but other than that she doesn’t need you.

Carpenter, like most people in the world, is looking for somebody to love. As a woman though, she does not want to sound desperate or needy, like she can’t live without a man. And I get that.

As someone dating in her 20’s, it’s rough out here and the way you portray yourself to others matters. No one wants needy, but we all have a right to be a little bit needy.

2. “Bad Reviews”

Oh, we have all been there.

You meet a guy, you really like him, you do your research and you find out some not so great things about him. Maybe it’s that he likes too many other girls' posts on Instagram or that he has a kid and overdue child support payments. 

Whatever it may be, you think you can fix him. Spoiler alert, ladies: you can’t. You are not their mother or their therapist, that is not your job.

But you think he'll change. You think you are going to be so good for him that he wants to be better. You see the good in people and hope and want the best for them, and that is not a bad thing.

If you are that kind of girl, this song is for you. Despite the bad reviews people give him you go for him anyways.

1. “Fifteen Minutes”

What do most of Sabrina Carpenter’s songs have in common? Plot twist one liners that will leave you gagged.

With “Juno” it was “have you ever tried this one?” With “Good Graces” it was “I’ll tell the world you finish your chores prematurely.” With “Coincidence” it was “Your car drove itself from L.A. to her thighs.”

With “Fifteen Minutes” I think we all know what line I’m talking about, I don’t even need to mention it.

And I can guarantee that the moms that brought their young daughters to the Short n’ Sweet Tour and were appalled by the lyrics and dancing are not going to like this song.

Despite the lyrics that are so inherently Sabrina Carpenter, the music is top notch. And if this list was about best songs to get ready to, “Fifteen Minutes” would still be number one.

All in all, Short n’ Sweet is, if I haven’t mentioned this already, iconic. Everyone knows about the album and the songs whether they realize it or not.

It’s hard to miss.

The five songs that were added to this album on Valentine’s were the perfect addition to the two-time Grammy winning album and no one can convince me otherwise.